Free Web NovelChapter 38: Chapter 38: Before the Iron-Claw Mine
Preparation for Floor 3 was different from the first two floors.
Black Stone Trial Ground required basic survival and combat readiness.
Foggy Bone Forest required perception, mental resistance, and anti-fog measures.
Iron-Claw Mine required something more practical: tools, breathing protection, structural awareness, and escape planning.
Qin Yuheng spent the first morning after accepting Yu Qingmei’s invitation in the academy’s resource exchange hall.
The academy had already unlocked special recommendations for teams entering Iron-Claw Mine.
[Recommended Floor 3 Supplies]
D Grade Dust Filtering Mask — 15 merit points
D Grade Mine Lamp Crystal — 10 merit points
D Grade Collapse Warning Stone — 30 merit points
C Grade Ore Cutting Tool — 60 merit points
D Grade Reinforcement Spike x5 — 20 merit points
C Grade Emergency Tunnel Marker — 50 merit points
D Grade Antitoxin Powder — 12 merit points
Most students entering Floor 3 bought only the cheapest items. Qin Yuheng bought selectively.
He purchased:
D Grade Dust Filtering Mask x4
D Grade Mine Lamp Crystal x4
D Grade Collapse Warning Stone x2
C Grade Emergency Tunnel Marker x1
D Grade Reinforcement Spike x10
The purchase looked reasonable for a high-performing team.
Not excessive.
Not suspicious.
Privately, each item became a potential evolution target.
Back at the Qin Estate, Qin Yuheng separated them.
The Dust Filtering Masks were important for the whole team. Enhancing each individually would consume multiple evolution opportunities but provide better protection. Quantity Multiplication was unnecessary because they only needed four now.
He enhanced one mask first.
[D Grade Dust Filtering Mask]
↓
[B Grade Clear Breath Mining Mask]
[Effect: Filters mineral dust, mild poison gas, and low-grade corrosive particles.]
Good.
He enhanced the remaining three.
All became B Grade Clear Breath Mining Masks.
Next, the Mine Lamp Crystals.
[D Grade Mine Lamp Crystal]
↓
[B Grade Spirit-Sight Mine Lamp Crystal]
[Effect: Illuminates dark tunnels and reveals weak traces of mineral energy, hidden cracks, and moving shadows.]
This was excellent.
He enhanced all four.
The Collapse Warning Stones were next.
[D Grade Collapse Warning Stone]
↓
[A Grade Earth Pulse Warning Stone]
[Effect: Detects structural instability, tremors, underground movement, and collapse risk within a moderate range.]
A grade.
Very useful.
He kept one for himself and gave one to Qin Mo, who understood formations and terrain better.
The C Grade Emergency Tunnel Marker was especially important.
[C Grade Emergency Tunnel Marker]
↓
[A Grade Return Path Anchor]
[Effect: Marks a path through tunnels and creates a short-duration guiding light route back to the anchor point. Can resist moderate spatial confusion and tunnel distortion.]
Qin Yuheng smiled faintly.
This could prevent getting lost.
Finally, he used Quantity Multiplication on one stack of Reinforcement Spikes.
[D Grade Reinforcement Spike x10]
↓
[D Grade Reinforcement Spike x18,000]
He stared at the number silently.
This was the absurdity of Quantity Multiplication.
He stored almost all of them and prepared only forty for team use.
With these, Qin Mo could reinforce tunnels far more freely.
That afternoon, Qin Yuheng brought the prepared items to the team.
Qin Mo held the A Grade Earth Pulse Warning Stone and stared at it for a long time.
"This is not academy standard."
"No."
"I should stop being surprised."
"That would save time."
Qin Mo sighed. "You are becoming more shameless."
Qin Lian examined the Spirit-Sight Mine Lamp Crystal.
"It reveals moving shadows?"
"Yes. It may help detect burrowers or beasts behind thin walls."
Qin Yuchen tested the Clear Breath Mining Mask. freēwēbnovel.com
"Good fit. Better than expected."
Qin Mo muttered, "Everything from him is better than expected."
Qin Yuheng ignored that and unfolded the Floor 3 file.
"Our objective is not only to complete the main mission. We need to confirm abnormal tremors and collect useful ore. But survival remains first."
Qin Yuchen nodded.
"Iron Blood Ore is required for the main mission. Twenty pieces."
Qin Lian said, "Tunnels may split. We should avoid separating."
Qin Mo raised the warning stone.
"If this reacts strongly, we leave. No debate."
Qin Yuheng agreed.
"Yes. Collapse risk overrides resource collection."
Qin Mo looked surprised.
"You agreed too easily."
"I am not interested in being buried."
"That is reassuring."
That evening, Qin Yuheng visited the Qin family weapon hall.
The old weapon racks stood silently under dim lamps. Qin Feng was there, practicing fist forms with a heavy stone weight. His movements were direct and forceful, each strike creating a dull sound in the air.
When he saw Qin Yuheng, he grinned.
"Floor 3 soon?"
"Yes."
"Iron-Claw Mine is annoying. Beasts hide in walls. Tunnels collapse. Ore greed kills idiots."
"You have entered before?"
"Cleared it with A evaluation. Missed hidden vein because one teammate panicked during tremors."
Qin Yuheng’s interest rose.
"Hidden vein?"
Qin Feng placed the stone weight down.
"Rumor. Some Floor 3 instances have Iron Blood Heart Vein. If found, the ore quality is much higher. But it usually wakes stronger mine beasts." freeweɓnovel.cѳm
Qin Yuheng remembered Yu Qingmei’s file.
Unusual metallic heartbeat sounds.
Possible hidden vein awakening.
"So the abnormality may be the Iron Blood Heart Vein."
"Maybe." Qin Feng’s expression became serious. "If you hear heartbeat sounds in the mine, do not rush toward them blindly. The mine beast boss may be guarding it."
Qin Yuheng nodded.
"Thank you."
Qin Feng walked closer and lowered his voice.
"Also, if you get good ore, keep some for family forging. Uncle Muchen knows a hidden blacksmith connected to the Qin family. Better than academy smiths for secret equipment."
Qin Yuheng noted that.
The Qin family still had hidden channels.
Good.
Before leaving, Qin Feng slapped his shoulder.
"Come back alive. Qin Mo will blame you if he has to run too much."
"He already does."
"Good. That means he is alive."
The next morning, the team gathered before Heavenly Gate Tower.
Yu Qingmei stood nearby with a small group of academy observers.
This entry was under academy observation, but Qin Yuheng had confirmed that observation did not allow them to see private panels or inventory. It would record mission outcomes, major combat events, and environmental abnormality reports.
That was acceptable.
Yu Qingmei looked at the team.
"Your objective is to complete the floor and investigate abnormal tremors. If the hidden vein appears and danger exceeds your ability, withdraw. Confirmation alone is enough for academy credit."
Qin Mo immediately said, "I like this instruction."
Yu Qingmei looked at him.
"Whether your captain follows it is another matter."
Qin Mo sighed.
"I know."
Qin Yuheng bowed slightly.
"We will act according to risk."
The Tower gate opened.
A cold voice echoed.
[Team registration confirmed.]
[Entering Floor 3: Iron-Claw Mine.]
The world shifted.
Darkness replaced the academy.
When Qin Yuheng opened his eyes, he stood inside a wide underground tunnel. The walls were dark red and black, veined with metallic light. The air smelled of dust, iron, and damp stone.
In the distance, something scraped against rock.
The mission panel appeared.
[Floor 3: Iron-Claw Mine]
[Main Mission]
Mine 20 Iron Blood Ores and reach the exit tunnel within 10 hours.
[Side Missions]
1. Defeat 10 Iron-Claw Mine Beasts.
2. Collect 5 Pure Iron Blood Crystals.
3. Avoid severe collapse damage.
[Warning]
Mine structure is unstable.
Excessive noise may attract underground creatures.
Qin Mo put on his mask.
"I hate this already."
Then the Earth Pulse Warning Stone in his hand pulsed once.
Slow.
Deep.
Like a heartbeat underground.
Qin Yuheng’s eyes sharpened.
The abnormality was real.
